Progressive Members Urge Other Progressives To Back Hoyer for Majority Leader

WASHINGTON - A group of House Democrats who are Members of the Progressive Caucus sent the following letter to their Democratic colleagues in the Progressive Caucus, urging them to support Whip Steny Hoyer for Majority Leader. The text of the letter is attached.

November 10, 2006

Dear Colleague:

Next Thursday, when our Democratic Caucus meets to organize as the new House Majority in the 110th Congress, we ask that you vote for Steny Hoyer of Maryland as our new Majority Leader.

As our Democratic Whip over the last four years, Steny has worked very well with Nancy and our entire leadership team, and their efforts have helped our Caucus achieve greater unity than at any time in the last half century.

While we agree with those who point to Steny's vast experience, leadership skills and ability to forge consensus as important reasons to support his candidacy, we also believe that his unwavering commitment to our core Democratic principles must not be overlooked.

Steny is a strong ally of working men and women, and in this 109th Congress helped take the lead in fighting for a long-overdue increase in the federal minimum wage.

He is deeply committed to civil rights, fighting for election fairness and accuracy and serving as the lead Democratic sponsor of the landmark "Americans With Disabilities Act" in 1990.

He has been a leader in protecting women's full reproductive rights, co-sponsoring the Freedom of Choice Act, which would codify Roe v. Wade.

As the former Chair and Ranking Democrat on the Helsinki Commission, he has long been an advocate for human rights and political freedoms throughout the world.

As a senior member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, he is a champion for education and health care funding.

He has supported every major piece of environmental legislation since being elected to Congress.

We are convinced that Steny is the right person at the right time for this critical position. He has the experience, skill, broad support within our Caucus, and commitment to core Democratic principles to be an effective Majority Leader. That's why we strongly support Steny's candidacy, and urge you to support him, too.

Thank you for considering our views on this important leadership race.